I am new and will need time to get used to using the forums, so hope i am not putting this in the wrong place. I came across this website when i was looking for advice on rats in my garden. I love all animals and don't dislike rats, it is just that people scare me telling me that they carry such terrible diseases and could kill my dog, because of it. I have had one running backwards and forwards for months going into the next door neighbours ferret cage. I could cope with that once or twice a day, although it's huge. Just now though i saw a baby just outside my back door, eating the leftovers of my dogs bonio, i think. Now i am really worried that they could start breeding like mad and get in the house. I hate all the suggestions of how to get rid of them, because they all have bad affects even moving them to a safer place. I even read a post from someone who said that squirrels, birds and hedgehogs carry just as many diseases but i rarely see these and they keep their distance, whereas the rats don't seem to fear us at all. Big rat even ran across the bottom of the garden yesterday afternoon, when my son and baby grandaughter where out there. Seriously can someone please advise me of geniunely how much more risk are they, than anything else. It is the thought of them multiplying that really worries me. Would appreciate some help here, thanks in advance.
